Two survivors have been pulled from a crashed plane in the Hudson River, in what New York Governor Kathy Hochul has described as “another miracle on the Hudson.” The small Cessna 172, carrying a pilot and a passenger, came down in icy waters around 60 miles north of New York City on Wednesday evening.
The aircraft was bound for New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County but crashed less than 20 miles from its destination. Firefighters and paramedics from the Middle Hope Fire Department raced to the scene at 8.04pm, but initially struggled to locate the plane in the river, with air temperatures below freezing at 24F.
After several minutes of searching, rescue crews found the airplane near Newburgh. Both occupants had freed themselves from the wreckage and swum to shore, where they were treated by medics and taken to hospital. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said both are expected to make a full recovery.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and the Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation. The plane had taken off from Long Island MacArthur Airport, 107 miles from Newburgh, according to News12 Westchester. Governor Hochul expressed gratitude to first responders on social media, saying: “Another miracle on the Hudson. Thank God both the pilot and passenger... have been located with only minor injuries.”
The original “Miracle on the Hudson” occurred on January 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549, piloted by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, made an emergency landing on the river after a bird strike disabled both engines. All 155 passengers survived.
